Magnetic fuel feeding apparatus



y r4, 1953 P. F. ROSSMANN 2,645,279 MAGNETIC FUEL FEEDING APPARATUS ,2" L0 Filed March 7, 1945 magma +1 Patented July, 953

4 2,645,279 mous'rrc mar. mmmo msna'rus I Peter ERoumann, MorrhtowmNJ... Application Well 7, 1m} fill-NO; 81,481 M 8 Claims. (01. its-ass.)

The invention relates in general to an improvement in the art of combustion, and specifically relates to a new form of fuel; to an improved technique in the art of propelling the same into a combustion chamber and to apparatus for practicing the method aspect of the disclosure..-

The primary objects of the invention insofar as its novel fuel feature is concerned are to provide for an increase in the thermal eillciency of lmown forms of combustible fuel; toprovide by the use of suchfuel for an increase of velocity of combustion and to increase the heat producing capacity of known forms of fuels without increasing their bulk or volume and to attain these objects without materially adding to their cost of production.

Broadly, these objects are attained by fortifying known forms of hydrocarbon fuels, such as 1550 any; 0

MM uel combination into the combustion zone inde- Eendentlz of the environmental pressure condiions acting on the fuel. Additionally the magnetic pump functions for the dual purpose of maintaining the metal particles more or less diffused throughout the moving stream and of forcing the fortified fuel under pressure into the associated combustion chamber. The invention has for another object the providing of a simplified 40* form of valvular control coupled to function coactively with the magnetic pump for intercepting the flow of the fuel to the combustion chamber in the event the pump is caused to become inactive.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from a consideration of the method features of the disclosure. and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings of one form of the apparatus aspect of, the invention, and in part will be more fully set forth in the following particular description of one method of practicing the invention and of one particular form of apparatus for practicing diil' mg into a mggg gr ofe age, l

certain new and-novel modifications of the preferred method (and other-a'features of construe-' tion and combination orparts) of the apparatus as hereinafter set forthand claimed.

Inthedrawinga r." d

Fig. his a-view mainly inaxial cross secti not a fuel supply line. disclosing a preferred form of apparatus: by: means; ofv which the novel fuel may be propelled and; by means of which the method aspect ofthe disclosure may be practiced. and; v,

Fig. 2 isgaitransverse. sectional view takenon theplane indicated by the line i=4 of Fig; 1 looking in the direction indicated by the. arrows.

In the drawings there is disclosed a combustion chamber IR shown in part by its rear wall H and which wall; is provided centrally thereof withia main fuelinlet, port it It is usual in some. Sltlll'! tiona, as: where thecombustion chamber isv the power source of a jet propelled aircraft to: supplement the usual fuel charge by additional fuels of different kinds and for this purpose thereiis disclosed other conventional fuel supply lines leading to the combustion chamber II. By way of example, a valve controlled feed pipe l3 supplies liquid oxygen, and a. valve controlled feed pipe I 4 supplies high-test gasoline to the combustion chamber in amounts regulated by their associated valves.

The main fuel supplyv line which leads to the port I! is in the form of a long, one-piece open end tube of relatively large diameter at its right. end to form the core-confining member ii of amagnetic pump it and which tube is of relatively small diameter at its left end to form the core guide VI! of a magneticvalve i8. The intake end l9 at the right end of the line is wide open to receive a cloud of finely divided particles of magnetic material diffused more or less uniformly in a stream of fuel projected into the tube It by any means. usually employed to project fuels with their. associated supplies of combustion supportin: air under pressure into a combustion space.

are indicated as a preferred metal, but the use of other ferromagnetic elements, also compounds thereof with cobalt and nickel and certain magnetic alloys such as Heuslers alloys in finely dividg fgg is also am- We. As finely divided aluminum at high temperature has a great affinity for oxygen. it is suggested that aluminum together with. an oxide be added to, the ferromagnetic It. is preferredthat the fuel which constitutes the method, and the invention also consists in h Vehicle c rrying he ir n n s equivalent magnetic fuel be gasoline, preferably in vapor form so that the fortified fuel passing through the line is gasoline vapors in which are difiused extremely fine particles of magnetic iron, the finer the better. However, it is within the scope of the disclosure to diffuse the metallic particles in a stream of liquid or even solid hydrocarbon fuel. As an example of another fuel which can be fortified as herein disclosed. propane, either in its'liquid or gaseous form may be employed. It is indicated that the particles preferably be allmetal and that the metal surfaces of the particles be exposed and free of any coatings which may interfere with the magnetic qualities of the resulting fuel.

The magnetic particles are preferably difi'used throughout the fuel stream in the form of a mist or cloud to such an extent that they are separated from each other by spaces materially greater than the mean average dimension of the particles whereby the separate particles are each entirely surrounded by a layer or film of the hydrocarbon fuel in intimate contact with the metallic surfaces of the metal.

It is understood that the smaller the size of the particles used the greater becomes the aggregate surface area of metal exposed to contact with the hydrocarbon fuel so that a relatively small mass of freely burning metal can provide a very large area of high temperatured surface to ignite the relatively thin layer of fuel in contact with this large burning surface. It is of course possible that the reverse may be true and as a matter of fact it may be the flaming fuel which ignites the metal.

The tube II is encircled by a plurality of small longitudinally spaced apart separate electric coils 2| coacting to produce the magnetic pump ll of sufficient strength to be capable of drawing the fuel magnetically through its core, with a force to give the fuel a momentum to pass at high speed through the core guide l1 and port l2 and to forcibly eject the same into the combustion chamber II.

The coils are preferably arranged conventionally in sets of three or four each and are connected by leads II to a ro ma etic field control or rheotome "supplied from a source mm indicated by the supply lines 2:. 24. The coils of each set are powered in succession for a short interval of time one after the other, beginning with the right coil of each set so that considered as a whole waves of separate lines of force are passed through the core is from right to left rapidly one after the other.

The shoulder formed by reducing the diameter of the pump core to that of the valve core forms a conical valve seat as to which is fitted a conical valve element 2| forming part of the magnetic valve l8 and which functions to shut of! fluid communication between the tube I! and core guide II. The valve element 20 is backed by a loaded compression spring 2! bearing at one end on the valve element and at its other end on a fixed stop 28 of a wheel-like spider form fitted in and secured to the tube ll adjacent its discharge end.

The magnetic valve It includes a coil I! wrapped about its core guide I! and connected by leads II and ll to the rheotome 22 and controlled therehy so that when the magnetic pump II is powered. the magnetic valve I8 is likewise powered at the same time to open the valve.

The valve element II is provided with a long 4 stem 32. formed of intersecting blade-like strips fitted somewhat loosely in the tube or core guide I! so as to guide the valve element 28 to and from its seat and at the same time to offer the least possible resistance to the flow of the fuel past the same. The left portion of the stem is is formed of magnetic metal preferably iron to form a solenoid 33 for the core of the magnetic valve. As so formed the powerlm of the coil 20 causes it to act on its solenoid 38 to center the same in the coil and thus shift the valve element 28 to the right of the showing in the drawing and into its unseated open position.

There is also disclosed in the drawing a spark plug 34 for firing the charge in the combustion chamber ll. The spark plug is supplied by lead ll from an ignition control 38 in turn supplied from the main direct current leads I! and 24 through leads I1 and II. The current supplied to the apparatus as a whole is controlled by a manually actuated. switch a in one of the leads 2!, 24'.

In operation and assuming a supply of fortified fuel available at the intake end is and assuming thatthe proper supply of additional fuels are being admitted directly to the combustion chamher through the supply pipes II and I, if such be necessary, the simple act of closing the switch If inaugurates the action of the device. The magnetic pump it acts to draw the fuel in waves succeeding themselves so rapidly that there is in effect produced a continuous current of fuel passing through the supply line and into the combustion chamber. The closing of the switch 3! also powers the coil 29 and the magnetic valve shifts the valve element 20 oil its seat toward the right of the showing in Fig. 1 and into an open position against the resistance of spring 21 thus permitting a free flow passing the valve element 28. This condition continues so long as current is being supplied to the several coils.

Moving the switch 19 to its open position intercepts the current flow to all of the coils and to the spark plug and spring 2-! reasserts itself to move the valve element 28 into its normal closed position as shown. With the valve in closed position leakage of the fuelJrom the magnetic pump is avoided even though the fuel in the tube I! may be under pressure at this time.

By means of a device as ,herein disclosed it is possible to propel the mixture from its point of admission and into the combustion chamber to fire it at relatively low igniting temperatures. This is apparently due to the explosive characteristics of finely divided iron particles when contained in a highly combustible fuel especially when the particles are of the small size herein featured. In the presence of even low temperature heat the metal particles herein featured, and especially when surrounded by the fuel, ignite with almost explosive violence. It is believed that each of the ignited particles of iron constitutes a source of ignition of the envelope of hydrocarbon fuel surrounding the same and with the multitude of firing points within the body of the fuel detonation is avoided and an improved form of fuel is provided.

The fuel as it passes through the conveyor provided by the magnetic pump is not necessarily intended to be heated but it is preferred that the fuel as it reaches the combustion chamber be at its kindling temperature but in any case the temperature should not be so high as to reduce the magnetic qualities of the fuel.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for supplying to a combustion chamber a fuel containing particles of a ferromagnetic material comprising a conveyor tube having intake and discharge ends, wrapped with a plurality of electric coils surrounding said tube and organized to produce a magnetic force in the tube operating to propel the material therein in the direction from the intake end of the tube towards its discharge end, the intake end of the tube providing for the admission thereto of a moving stream of a hydrocarbon fuel in which are diffused particles of ferromagnetic material, a valve at the discharge end of the tube springblased' and normally closed, and electrical means for unseating the valve simultaneously with the powering of the electric coils to permit the fuel to be ejected magnetically from the conveyor tube by the magnetic force of the coils acting on the material in the tube.

2. The combination in a device for conveying a magnetic fuel of a hollow tube reduced intermediate its ends to form a conical valve seat providing a tube of relatively large diameter on one side of the seat and a tube of relatively small diameter on the other side of the seat, electric coils surrounding the tube of large diameter to form a magnetic pump, a coil surrounding the tube of small diameter to form a magnetic valve, a valvular element normally engaging said seat, said valvular element provided with a stem extending therefrom into the small diametered tube, a part of said stem being formed of magnetic material and forming the armature of the magnetic valve.

8'. Apparatus for supplying fuel to a combustion space comprising an electric coil; a hollow fuel conducting tube forming the core of the coil and provided with an intake end for receiving a moving stream of magnetic fuel and said coil having capacity to generate within the tube an electromagnetic force capable of propelling the fuel therethrough and for discharging the fuel forcefully from the other end of the tube, and electromagnetically controlled valvular means for controlling the flow of fuel,

4. In a device for conveying a magnetic fuel, the combination which includes a set of electric coils forming a magnetic pump having a tubular core forming a pumping chamber for the fuel, said core provided at one end with means for introducing a moving stream of fuel thereto in position to be affected by the force created by the magnetic pump when energized and valvular means actuated by the magnetic field of one of gaicll set of coils for controlling the flow of the 5. In a device for conveying a magnetic fuel, the combination which includes a set of electric coils forming a magnetic pump having a tubular core forming a pumping chamber for the fuel, said core provided at one end with means for introducing a moving stream of fuel thereto in position to be affected by the force created by the magnetic pump when energized, and said core provided at its opposite end with valvular means responsive to the magnetic field of one of said set of coils for intercepting the flow of the fuel.

6. In a device for conveying a magnetic fuel, the combination of a magnetic pump including a tubular core and actuating coils, a magnetic valve for controlling the flow of said fuel from the pump and including an actuating coil and a tubular core forming a continuation of the pump core and a circuit control device for causing the pump coils to become powered in succession and to cause the valve core to become powered simultaneously with the powering of the pump coils.

7. The device defined in claim 6 in which the magnetic pump includes a spring loaded valve element normally disposed in closed position and responsive to the powering of its associated coil to move into open position to permit passage of said fuel.

8; Apparatus for supplying to a combustion chamber a fuel containing particles of ferromagnetic material comprising a conveyor tube having intake and discharge ends wrapped with a plurality of electric coils surrounding said tube and organized to produce a magnetic force in the tube operating to propel the material therein in the direction from the intake end of the tube towards its discharge end. the intake end of the tube providing for the admission thereto of a moving stream of a gaseous fuel in which are dimised particles of a ferromagnetic material, a valve at the discharge end of the tube springbiased and normally closed, and electrical means for unseating the valve simultaneously with the powering of the electric coils to permit the fuel to be ejected magnetically from the conveyor tube by the magnetic force of the coils acting on the material in the tube.

' PETER F. ROSSMANN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 968,350 Harrison Aug, 23, 1910 1,660,407 Bainbridge Feb. 28. 1928 1,702,669 Redmond Feb. 19, 1929 1,986,971 Heckert Jan. 8, 1935 2,110,370 Lum Mar. 8, 1938 2,111,970. Gillen Mar. 22, 1938 2,224,505 Unger Dec. 10, 1940 2,233,894 Mead Mar. 4, 1941 2,328,147 Hyson Aug. 31, 1943 2,348,113 Davis May 2, 1944 2,386,369 Thompson Oct. 9, 1945 2,397,785 Freidlander Apr. 2, 1946 2,425,520 Dutoit Aug. 12, 1947 2,428,471 Pruitt Oct. 7, 1947 2,444,899 Meincie July 6, 1948 

